Imaging element, imaging device, endoscope, endoscope system, and method of driving imaging element

An imaging device comprising

• an imaging element comprising:
• a plurality of pixels disposed in an arrangement of a two-dimensional matrix, the pixels being configured to receive external light to generate an imaging signal corresponding to a light amount and output the imaging signal;
• first vertical transfer lines, each first vertical transfer line being provided to each column in the arrangement of the plurality of pixels and transferring the imaging signal;
• a second vertical transfer line provided discretely from the first vertical transfer line;
• a reference voltage generator configured to generate a first reference voltage for a column-black reference signal, a second reference voltage for a line-black reference signal and a third reference voltage for phase adjustment;
• a phase adjusting signal generator configured to output a phase adjusting signal corresponding to the third reference voltage during a period in which the pixel does not output the imaging signal, the phase adjusting signal being used for the phase adjustment;
• a first reference signal generator including a first source follower transistor connected to the first vertical transfer line and a first reset transistor supplying an output voltage of the reference voltage generator to a gate of the first source follower transistor, and the first reference signal generator being configured to generate a column-black reference signal corresponding to the first reference voltage and output the column-black reference signal to the first vertical transfer line;
• a second reference signal generator including a second source follower transistor connected to the second vertical transfer line and a second reset transistor supplying the second reference voltage to a gate of the second source follower transistor, and the second reference signal generator being configured to generate a line-black reference signal corresponding to the second reference voltage and output the line-black reference signal to the second vertical transfer line;
• and
• a timing generator configured to drive the phase adjusting signal generator, the first reference signal generator and the second reference signal generator to transmit the phase adjusting signal, the column-black reference signal and the line-black reference signal, respectively, to an external device during a transfer blanking period of the imaging signal.

An endoscope comprising an imaging device on a distal end side of an insertion part, wherein

• the imaging device comprising an imaging element comprising:
• a plurality of pixels disposed in an arrangement of a two-dimensional matrix, the pixels being configured to receive external light to generate an imaging signal corresponding to a light amount and output the imaging signal;
• first vertical transfer lines, each first vertical transfer line being provided to each column in the arrangement of the plurality of pixels and transferring the imaging signal;
• a second vertical transfer line provided discretely from the first vertical transfer line;
• a reference voltage generator configured to generate a first reference voltage for a column-black reference signal, a second reference voltage for a line-black reference signal and a third reference voltage for phase adjustment;
• a phase adjusting signal generator configured to output a phase adjusting signal corresponding to the third reference voltage during a period in which the pixel does not output the imaging signal, the phase adjusting signal being used for the phase adjustment;
• a first reference signal generator including a first source follower transistor connected to the first vertical transfer line and a first reset transistor supplying an output voltage of the reference voltage generator to a gate of the first source follower transistor, and the first reference signal generator being configured to generate a column-black reference signal corresponding to the first reference voltage and output the column-black reference signal to the first vertical transfer line;
• a second reference signal generator including a second source follower transistor connected to the second vertical transfer line and a second reset transistor supplying the second reference voltage to a gate of the second source follower transistor, and the second reference signal generator being configured to generate a line-black reference signal corresponding to the second reference voltage and output the line-black reference signal to the second vertical transfer line;
• and
• a timing generator configured to drive the phase adjusting signal generator, the first reference signal generator and the second reference signal generator to transmit the phase adjusting signal, the column-black reference signal and the line-black reference signal, respectively, to an external device during a transfer blanking period of the imaging signal.

An endoscope system comprising:

• an endoscope comprising an imaging device on a distal end side of an insertion part;
• and
• a processing unit configured to convert the imaging signal into an image signal, wherein
• the imaging device comprising an imaging element comprising:
• a plurality of pixels disposed in an arrangement of a two-dimensional matrix, the pixels being configured to receive external light to generate an imaging signal corresponding to a light amount and output the imaging signal;
• first vertical transfer lines, each first vertical transfer line being provided to each column in the arrangement of the plurality of pixels and transferring the imaging signal;
• a second vertical transfer line provided discretely from the first vertical transfer line;
• a reference voltage generator configured to generate a first reference voltage for a column-black reference signal, a second reference voltage for a line-black reference signal and a third reference voltage for phase adjustment;
• a phase adjusting signal generator configured to output a phase adjusting signal corresponding to the third reference voltage during a period in which the pixel does not output the imaging signal, the phase adjusting signal being used for the phase adjustment;
• a first reference signal generator including a first source follower transistor connected to the first vertical transfer line and a first reset transistor supplying an output voltage of the reference voltage generator to a gate of the first source follower transistor, and the first reference signal generator being configured to generate a column-black reference signal corresponding to the first reference voltage and output the column-black reference signal to the first vertical transfer line;
• a second reference signal generator including a second source follower transistor connected to the second vertical transfer line and a second reset transistor supplying the second reference voltage to a gate of the second source follower transistor, and the second reference signal generator being configured to generate a line-black reference signal corresponding to the second reference voltage and output the line-black reference signal to the second vertical transfer line;
• and
• a timing generator configured to drive the phase adjusting signal generator, the first reference signal generator and the second reference signal generator to transmit the phase adjusting signal, the column-black reference signal and the line-black reference signal, respectively, to an external device during a transfer blanking period of the imaging signal.